Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

(08/30/2026) Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:21-27

“Take up Your Cross Daily and Follow Jesus Christ”

 

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

enlighten the eyes of our hearts,

that we may know what is the hope

that belongs to our call.

 

From the desk of Fr. Leo

     You can't turn on the television these days without hearing about politics. Will Rogers once told a story you might enjoy that was about two politicians. One said to the other: “l will stop telling lies about you, if you’ll stop telling the truth about me.”

     Jesus would have made a lousy politician. Politicians are busy telling us how they are going to solve all our problems if we vote for them. Jesus is telling us, if we follow Him, it's going to bring us problems. “Whoever wishes to come after me must take up his cross and follow me.” Let us not assume from this statement that if we decide not to follow Him, we'll be without any problems. Having problems comes with being human. Problems and crosses are part of everyone’s life, whether they believe in Christ or not. Following Christ helps us deal, with them more easily; the cross that we take up if we follow Christ will not defeat us but will bring us to resurrection. Religion and philosophy have always tried to understand the mystery of suffering, especially the difficult problem of why good people suffer. So many ways to explain suffering are out there. None of them can take away all the mystery from suffering. For me personally, the best answer is found in the gospel. Jesus through His cross and resurrection, has given us hope in our pain and hopelessness and has assured us that if we follow Him in faith, that can only lead to eternal glory.

     As we heard in this weekend's gospel, St. Peter had faith in Jesus. He had just finished professing that Jesus was “the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” The words were hardly out of his mouth when Jesus said that being faithful to His mission, that being the Messiah, would cost Him His life, but He would rise again. That didn't match St. Peter's idea of the Messiah. In St. Peter's mind, the Messiah would rally the Jewish people. He would defeat the Romans who occupied their land. He would bring back the days when Israel had their own king. That the Messiah would have to suffer was not just in the plan according to S t. Peter.

     When God tells us something and we listen and we believe it, we're seeing and knowing as God sees and knows, even if we can't fully understand everything at the time. We're beginning to think like God does. St. Peter's problem was he stopped listening to Jesus when Jesus started talking about suffering and he started to dictate to Jesus the way things were going to be. We should listen to what God speaks to us in the Scriptures. We should profess our faith in His word. As we struggle in our own crosses and difficulties, we should celebrate how Jesus overcame His sufferings and His cross through the resurrection. In that event, we are given a vision of God’s plan of victory for all who live in His grace.

Meditation: What is the way to glory and victory in the kingdom of God? Jesus told his disciples that he must first suffer rejection, be crucified, and then rise again on the third day. In so many words he explained that there could be no victory and no glory without the cross. Jesus' prediction of his suffering and death on the cross caused his disciples great dismay and disbelief. Peter, who was often the first to react to whatever Jesus had to say, wanted to protect Jesus from any threat or harm. That is why he rebuked the very thought of Jesus having to face rejection, condemnation, and crucifixion.

"My way or God's way"

Why did Jesus use the word "Satan" when he addressed Peter? When Jesus went out into the wilderness to prepare for his public ministry, Satan came to tempt him to follow a different path than the one chosen by the Father in heaven. Now Jesus recognizes in Peter's response another temptation to seek a different and less costly path for accomplishing his mission than the way of the cross. The word "Satan" literally means "adversary" - one who stands in opposition. Jesus reminds Peter that his role is not to be an adversary but a disciple - one who gets behind his Master to follow with trust and obedience.

Victory and glory through the cross

Jesus knew that the cross was the only way he could ransom us from slavery to sin with the price of his blood which was shed for our freedom. Through his sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus defeated Satan who held us in bondage to sin and condemnation. And Jesus defeated the power of death and overcame the grave through his resurrection. Through his obedience to his heavenly Father's will, Jesus reversed the curse of Adam's disobedience. His death on the cross won pardon for the guilty, freedom for the oppressed, healing for the afflicted, and new life for those condemned to death. His death makes possible our freedom to live as the adopted sons and daughters of the merciful Father in heaven.

The paradox of God's economy

Jesus told his disciples that they, too, must be willing to lay down their lives in order to gain new everlasting life with the Father in his kingdom. There's a certain paradox in God's economy. We lose what we gain, and we gain what we lose. When we try to run our life our own way, we end up losing it to futility. Only God can free us from our ignorant and sinful ways. When we surrender our lives to God, he gives us new life in his Spirit and the pledge of eternal life. God wants us to be spiritually fit and ready to do his will at all times. When the human body is very weak or ill, we make every effort to nurse it back to health. How much more effort and attention should we give to the spiritual health of our hearts and minds!

The great exchange

What will you give to God in exchange for freedom and eternal life? Are you ready to part with anything that might keep you from following the Lord Jesus and his perfect plan for your life? Jesus poses these questions to challenge our assumptions about what is most profitable and worthwhile in life. In every decision of life we are making ourselves a certain kind of person. It is possible that some can gain all the things they have set their heart on, only to wake up suddenly and discover that they missed the most important thing of all. Of what value are material things if they don't help you gain what truly lasts for eternity. Neither money nor possessions can buy heaven, mend a broken heart, or cheer a lonely person.

Losing all to gain all with Jesus Christ

A true disciple gladly gives up all that he or she has in exchange for an unending life of joy and happiness with God. God gives without measure. The joy he offers no sadness or loss can diminish. The cross of Jesus Christ leads to victory and freedom from sin and death. What is the cross which Jesus Christ commands me to take up each day? When my will crosses with his will, then his will must be done. Are you ready to lose all for Jesus Christ in order to gain all with Jesus Christ?

Lord Jesus, you are the living bread which sustains me in this life. May I always hunger for the bread which comes from heaven and find in it the nourishment and strength I need to love and serve you wholeheartedly. May I always live in the joy, peace, and unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, both now and in the age to come.

read more at: http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org

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